A
remarkable painting by British artist John Emms (1843 –
1912) that shows how much dogs really are a man’s best
friend is set to make over a million dollars at Bonhams New
York on Valentine’s Day.
‘New Forest Foxhounds’ was commissioned by Henry
Powell, master of the New Forest Hunt during the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, who loved his dogs so much that he asked
the leading canine artist of the day to immortalise them on
canvas. The result is regarded as one of Emms’s finest
works, and is expected to fetch between $800,000 – 1,200,000
(£450,000 – 700,000) – which would be a world
record for the artist – when it goes under the hammer at
Bonhams’ Dog Art Sale next month. The lot, which has been
consigned to auction from Powell’s direct family descendents,
includes a copy of the original signed key by Powell with the
names and birth dates of each dog.
This sale has been a highlight of the auction calendar for
over 20 years and Bonhams is delighted to be bringing back its
annual Dog Art Sale to New York following two highly successful
auctions on the West Coast. It will take place in Bonhams’
new auction gallery in New York’s historic Fuller Building
on Madison Avenue on 14 February 2006.
The sale brings together a plethora of oil paintings, watercolours,
bronzes and works of art of canine interest, guaranteed to make
this celebration of the dog in art an exciting auction event
beloved by dog painting enthusiasts and collectors alike. It
also marks the reunion of noted dog painting specialists Charles
O’Brien from London and Alan Fausel from New York, who
have curated this marvellous sale which also includes works
by Arthur Wardle RI (1864 – 1949), Thomas William Earl
(fl. 1836 – 1885), William Woodhouse (1857 – 1939),
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1891 – 1905), Briton Riviere (1840
– 1920), and many more.
Barkfest at Bonhams
Shortly before the sale, on Sunday 12 February, Bonhams New
York and the American Kennel Club (AKC) will host ‘Barkfest
at Bonhams,’ a charity brunch and private viewing of the
prestigious collection of dog art included in the auction. All
proceeds of the Barkfest will be donated to AKC’s charitable
public art programme, DOGNY – America’s tribute to
Search and Rescue Dogs. Dog lovers, art afficianados, and their
canine companions will have the exclusive opportunity to view
artwork featuring dogs and sporting themes at Bonhams’
newest gallery.
Further sale highlights include:
John Emms (British 1843 – 1912) ‘Hounds by a kennel’
$70,000 – 90,000, and ‘A group of Dandie Dinmonts’
$40,000 – 60,000
William Woodhouse (British 1857 – 1939) ‘Setter with
game’ $10,000 – 15,000
Maud Earl (British 1864 – 1943) ‘The English Setter
“Carta Carna,” working on a moor’ $30,000 –
50,000
Arthur Wardle RI (1864 – 1949) ‘Head studies of two
Borzois’ $5,000 – 8,000
James Yates Carrington (British d. 1892) ‘The Orphans’
$10,000 – 15,000
For more details visit the Bonhams
web site.
